During this challenging time the Committee has set new rules which must be observed by residents of the community in order to ensure that we all can use the garden safely while social distancing. They are set out below.

Thank you for bearing with us while we navigate this difficult time. The communications you have received so far have come from a place of caring for our wellbeing as a community and protecting our families, and of course also urgency in making sure we are all safe.  We are sure that we can work together as a community to achieve our common goal of protecting each and every one of us.  Together we are a wonderful group of people and we are so lucky to live in such a caring garden community.

You don't want to get Covid 19. It is now hospitalising a large number of people every day in London, and even the 'mild' version of the disease can be pretty harrowing - by now many of us have friends who are posting online their experience with the disease and it's nasty. It is placing an increasingly severe burden on our NHS and all the people who work there.

And one way it is spreading is by people who are infected depositing droplets on surfaces they are touching, which other people then touch - current thoughts are that the virus can last up to 2-3 days on plastic and metal surfaces. Many of these people won't even know they are carrying the disease - Neil Ferguson of Imperial College estimates based on research data that 50% of people carrying the virus are asymptomatic or have such mild symptoms they are unaware they have it.

Happily, following the relaxation of Government guidelines we have been able to re-open the playground. We would like to thank garden users for having been considerate and not using the playground equipment during the lockdown. We would ask that you make sure your children wash their hands before and after using the playground.

Meanwhile the other rules below do remain in place until further notice so please do continue to observe them.

NEW GARDEN RULES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING

The new rules to make sure we can safely share the garden in this time of greatest need are as follows:

Walkers and joggers using the pathways should go anti-clockwise around that garden so as to reduce the amount of contact residents have with each other. We will place signs with direction arrows in the garden to remind everyone.

Joggers approaching walkers should overtake them giving a 2m wide gap by using the garden turf.

Children – It is vital that the 2m social distancing be observed. All children under the age of 6 years old must be accompanied by at least one of their parents to ensure that they are observing the 2m distancing.

Guests – Residents may now bring up to 6 guests into the garden in the current situation. This includes personal trainers, family members and local friends who do not live on the garden.

Bicycles – To avoid accidents, bicycles may only be ridden on the lawn and not on the pathways. Parents with children using bicycle must ensure that their children are aware of this important rule.

 Motorized vehicles – To avoid accidents, motorized vehicles are not to be used on the pathways or the garden turf (except wheelchairs).

We thank you all for your co-operation in this. One of the things that has been great to see in this otherwise dire situation is the way that communities have been pulling together to help each other, and this one is no different. If anyone has any ideas they would like to feed in to help their fellow residents get through this, please send them in to admin@crescentgarden.co.uk, or come and tell us when you see any committee member out in the garden.